Both the RS 200 and the 220 F from Bajaj Auto are marvellous two-wheeled machines. But which one is better?
Well, to answer the above question one would have to run an in-depth analysis of both motorcycles.
Here goes:
The Pulsar RS200 was Bajaj Auto's attempt at coming up with a flagship compact sports bike. And to be honest, the brand nailed it! The Rs 200 is the only compact sports bike in Bajaj Auto’s line-up for India. On the other hand, it is also the only fully-faired motorcycle. The bike is currently offered in India in three colour options and a single trim.
The 220 F on the other hand, is a semi-naked streetfighter motorcycle. The bike was briefly discontinued by Bajaj Auto before the brand decided to roll back the corporate decision! Currently, Bajaj Auto offers the 220 F in a single trim and four colour options.
The latest iteration of the Bajaj Pulsar 220 F is offered by the brand in India at the ex-showroom price of Rs. 1, 66,475. The latest iteration of the RS 200, on the other hand, is offered by Bajaj at the ex-showroom price of Rs. 2, 05,690. Please note that bespoke two-wheeler loan schemes are offered by leading lenders for these two motorcycles all over India.
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The real-world mileage of the Pulsar RS 200 as per owners is 35 KMPL.
On the other hand, the real-world mileage for the Pulsar 220 F is 38 KMPL as per owners. This is amazing for a 220 CC motorcycle that weighs 160 KGs!
The Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 is a compact sports bike that is perfect for urban commutes. The bike can also be taken on short weekend trips. However, riding this bike continuously for more than two hours could be a bit uncomfortable
The 220 F on the other hand is a semi-naked streetfighter motorcycle. Hence, it is perfect for urban as well as rural commutes. The long wheelbase of the motorcycle however could come in the way of navigating heavy city traffic conditions. The 220 F entails a quite comfortable riding triangle. Hence, this motorcycle can be taken on long bike trims as well as on highway cruises.
The Pulsar RS200 is powered by a 200cc engine. Please note that the engine powering this motorcycle is the same one that powers the legendary NS 200. However, the engine of the RS 200 has been tuned to produce more peak power. The fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, four-valve-equipped engine is capable of producing 24.2bhp of peak power at 9750rpm. The peak torque of 18.7Nm, on the other hand, is made available to the rider after 8000rpm. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox and a wet multiplate clutch. The electronically limited top speed of the motorcycle is 140.8kmph. The overall design of the bike is like no other Pulsar motorcycle. The bike comes with dual projector headlamps and a lot of muscular creases and contours.
Bajaj Auto briefly put the sales and production of the 220 F on hold back in 2022. This decision was taken by the OEM to ensure that the sales of its new 250 CC Pulsar took off. However, fans of the legendary 220 F compelled the bike brand to bring back the motorcycle in Bajaj Auto’s line-up. And the bike brand obliged. One must remember that Bajaj did not change anything on the 220 F’s packaging. The reason is simple. The brand did not have to alter anything on the 220 F to keep it appealing to its customer. The 220 F is a modern motorcycling legend. The latest iteration of the bike entails the same design elements, the same packaging and the same hardware. However, the headlamp units are now illuminated by LEDs. The tail lamp remains the LED unit that came in the 2022 iteration. The bike also retained its massive 15-litre capacity fuel tank. The 220 CC, single-cylinder, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine produces a peak power of 20.11bhp. The peak torque on the other hand is limited to 18.55Nm. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox.
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Well, from a technological point of view, the RS 200 is superior to the 220 F. Furthermore, in terms of design, the RS 200 looks much better than the 220 F’s dated looks. However, in terms of performance, low RPM grunt and peak power, the 220 F is still undefeated. But, in terms of handling, once again, the RS 200 takes the proverbial cake! In the end, it all boils down to the preferences of the buyers.
